Persons establishing their residence in Austria, changing residence within Austria, or changing their primary residence (“Hauptwohnsitz”) must register to the responsible authority.
Deadlines:
- Registration: within three days.
- De-registration: within three days prior to or after moving.
Responsible authority:
- In the provinces: the residence registration service of the Municipal Offices(“Gemeindeamt”) or in cities with own statute the Municipal Authority (“Magistrat”).
- In Vienna: the residence registration service of the Municipal District Office(“Magistratisches Bezirksamt”).
Documents to be presented:
- Travel document (e.g. passport).
- Birth certificate (“Geburtsurkunde”).
- Optionally Documentary Proof of Academic Degrees (“urkundlicher Nachweis akademischer Grade”).Please note: In the case of a primary apartment leasehold, the “Meldezettel” (application form) must be signed by the real estate management company; in the case of a sublet, by the primary leaseholder, and in the case of a condominium or house, by the owner.
You can register or de-register an existing registration
- in person,
- through a person whom you trust (using the original documents of the person obliged to register, or with a notarised copy of these documents), or
- through the post (using the original documents of the person obliged to register, or with a notarised copy of these documents).
Registration by fax or e-mail is not currently permitted by law!
Information about residence registration of a newborn is available at: https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/
Tourists staying at a hotel or hostel temporarily (up to 60 days) are asked to provide their personal data for the guest book (“Gästebuch”/”Gästeblatt”). Longer-term guests need to register with municipal authorities.
Failure to comply with registration regulations may result in a fine or, if the fine cannot be paid by the individual concerned, in imprisonment of up to two weeks. Such fine or imprisonment is imposed in summary administrative proceedings by a police magistrate.